The suspension and expulsion of young children will be limited in Colorado, thanks to legislation that was recently approved by the state’s governor. The law will reduce the reasons students ranging from preschool to second grade can receive out-of school punishments. Advocates for the measure had claimed that tossing young children out of school does more harm than good, as more than 5,800 students faced such punishment in the 2017-2018 school year, with about three suspensions for every 100 students in grades K-2. Petitions like this one helped in raising awareness to the issue.

Supporters of less severe discipline stated sending kids home from school for acting out doesn’t help them learn appropriate behavior, and increases the likelihood they’ll be suspended again, while feeding the school-to-prison pipeline. It was noted by Rosemarie Allen, president of the Institute for Racial Equity and Excellence and an educator specializing in early childhood education, that children of color, children with disabilities, and boys are more likely to face suspensions. African-American girls make up 20 percent of the female preschool population, but are 54 percent of those tossed from preschool, for instance.

“This is a critical developmental era for these children. We’re talking about 7-year-olds and younger,” said Colin Larson, a co-sponsor of the bill. “It’s much easier to deal with the behavioral issues of a 7-year-old than it is to deal with the behavioral issues of a 21-year-old.” Sign below to thank those who have supported this needed legislation.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Governor Polis,

Sending youths home from school for misbehaving is known to increase the chances of future misdemeanors. By reducing the number of suspensions and expulsions given to young students, you opened up the discussion of finding more appropriate ways to address problematic behavior in children.

Students deserve second chances and shunning them away is not productive under any circumstance. Thank you for signing HB 19-1194 into law.

2 Comments

Maybe some punishment should be handed out to the caregivers. They have taken away all form of punishment for children teaching a child that what they do has no consequences. What or how do you expect a child to act. In the old days we were put in a corner on our knees. Yes it shamed us and probably hurt our self esteem. But we learned fast to behave and toe the line as if we didn’t we knew what would happen. How do you expect the rest of the children to study and learn anything when one or two children are disrupting the class room? Maybe it is time even young children learn there are consequences for their unruly actions. Maybe then we wouldn’t be dealing with teens who think it is ok to do whatever they want and they are exempt from consequences. And grow up to be adults who think the same way.